fIREHOSE was formed in the spring of 1986 shortly after the accidental death of D. Boon brought an end to Watt and Hurley's previous band, Minutemen. Crawford, a then 21-year-old Ohio State student and Minutemen fan was invited up on the roof of the Camper Van Beethoven van in Columbus, Ohio, where the members of Camper Van Beethoven told Crawford a false rumor that Watt and Hurley were auditioning guitarists for a new band. Crawford, having found Watt's phone number in the phone book, called him up and expressed his desire to come out to California and play with them. Still mourning the loss of his friend Boon, Watt initially was not interested and in fact had lost much of his desire to play music, however Crawford's persistence eventually paid off when he showed up unannounced in San Pedro and asked Watt for the chance to come over and play for him. Watt eventually agreed and the two met with Crawford "auditioning" for Watt by playing him The Who's, "I'm One" as well as a few Minutemen songs. Impressed with Crawford's passion and enthusiasm, Watt and Hurley agreed to give the inexperienced "kid" from Ohio a shot and the band was formed. Crawford quickly relocated to San Pedro where he became known as Ed Fromohio and spent nine months sleeping under a desk in Watt's one bedroom apartment. The name of the band was taken from a short film of Bob Dylan doing "Subterranean Homesick Blues" as Watt thought it was funny when Dylan held up a cue card for the lyric that said "firehose".
The band played their first gig in June 1986 and by the end of the year released their debut album, 'Ragin', Full On' via the independent label, SST. That same year, they also supported Sonic Youth on their "Flaming Telepaths Tour". The band quickly gained a loyal fanbase especially among the underground skateboarding crowd thanks in part to the inclusion of some of the their early material in several key skateboarding videos from the late 1980s. "Brave Captain" from Ragin', Full On, as well as "Sometimes", "Hear Me", and "Windmilling" from their sophomore release, If'n were all featured in the Santa Cruz Skateboards video series, "Streets on Fire".
Over the course of seven and a half years, the band developed their own musical identity apart from the Minutemen while still maintaining the same dynamic synthesis of punk, funk, and free jazz. They toured non-stop and consistently played to packed audiences. All in all, Firehose played 980 gigs, released five full-length albums and two EPs before disbanding in 1994. They played their final gig on February 12, 1994 at the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro, California.
In January 2012, it was announced that the band would perform at the Coachella Festival that April.
Hear Me
fIREHOSE Lyrics
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While feats of fancy, flaming fire, from a tangent rock
Benefitting well intentions, fitted with guitar
Armed with you know (current heroes) being what they are
Hear me, ya hear? Hear me
Facing with the racing and the mason and the dude
The temporal and the corporal set sights above the moon
Tweaking down the police sound by singing them a tune
Hear me, ya hear? Hear me
It is said degrees divide a circle square
Pencil out each portion let a ruler keep it fair
Dedicate all history to this abstract here
Then throw away the paper trade the circle for a sphere
Hear me, ya hear? Hear me
Hear me, ya hear? Hear me
The lyrics to fIREHOSE's song "Hear Me" explore themes of time, culture, and human existence. The first verse suggests that time is compressing and defining culture, while new and creative ideas emerge from unexpected places. These ideas may be well-intentioned, but they are ultimately shaped by the cultural context of the moment. The repeated refrain of "Hear me" suggests a desire to be heard and understood, perhaps reflecting a sense of frustration or alienation from the larger society.
The second verse addresses various aspects of human experience, including work (the mason), leisure (John Mills on the sidelines), and the existential question of our place in the universe (sights above the moon). The image of "tweaking down the police sound by singing them a tune" is particularly intriguing, suggesting a kind of subversive tool in the face of authority.
The final verse adds a philosophical dimension to the song, playing with the idea of degrees and circles as symbols of the human desire for order and comprehension. However, the final line ("then throw away the paper trade the circle for a sphere") seems to suggest a rejection of this need for abstract knowledge in favor of a more direct and intuitive approach to living.
Overall, "Hear Me" is a complex song that touches on a range of themes related to culture, identity, and existence. It invites the listener to think more deeply about their own place in the world and the meaning of their experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Time stuffs the culture into human socks
The passing of time gradually assimilates cultural trends and norms into the daily lives of people.
While feats of fancy, flaming fire, from a tangent rock
Amidst all the mundane aspects of life, extraordinary and creative bursts can flare up unexpectedly.
Benefitting well intentions, fitted with guitar
Good intentions often inspire artistic expression in the form of music.
Armed with you know (current heroes) being what they are
Taking inspiration from current celebrities, public figures, or heroes can motivate one to take action.
Hear me, ya hear? Hear me
The artist is calling for attention and urging others to listen carefully.
Facing with the racing and the mason and the dude
Dealing with the fast-paced, competitive nature of society and the various players in it can be challenging.
Sideways seeing John Mills on the sidelines talking rude
While navigating the world, the singer observes rude behavior from a bystander named John Mills.
The temporal and the corporal set sights above the moon
Focusing on things beyond the temporal and physical world can be enlightening.
Tweaking down the police sound by singing them a tune
Expressing oneself through music can have an impact on societal norms and boundaries, such as the actions of the police.
It is said degrees divide a circle square
A commonly held belief is that education helps to divide and analyze complex problems through logic and reasoning.
Pencil out each portion let a ruler keep it fair
Breaking down the parts of a problem and analyzing them systematically can lead to fair solutions.
Dedicate all history to this abstract here
Focusing on abstract concepts can help to understand historical events and their implications.
Then throw away the paper trade the circle for a sphere
Abandoning traditional ways of thinking and embracing more unconventional ideas can lead to important discoveries and progress.
Hear me, ya hear? Hear me
Reinforcing the singer's call for attention and urging others to listen closely.
Contributed by Leah F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.